For more than 80 years, The Drake has been a second home for travelers who do Chicago the white-glove way. Old-fashioned elegance is a given at this hotel, which serves daily afternoon tea ($35.70 per person) and houses the city's most glittering affairs in two straight-out-of-Cinderella ballrooms. Staying in one of the hotel's 537 rooms or 74 suites will cost from $159 (for the King Drake Guest Room) to $259 (for the Drake Family Room Plus with two double beds and two bathrooms) to $1050 for the GoldCoast Suite with a king jacuzzzi and lake-view parlor.

Chicago's proudest culinary riches are carved tableside at the Drake Bros. steakhouse, a restaurant located just off the lobby that offers gawk-worthy views of the surrounding Gold Coast, and at elegant seafood eatery The Cape Cod Room. After-dinner drinks are steeped in sophistication at the famous Coq d'Or, and martini-tipplers will find bliss at the Palm Court, a seriously opulent lounge that features daily live music and an extensive cocktail list. Guests who prefer private dining enjoy round-the-clock room service.

Modern amenities include a fitness room (request an in-house treadmill for only $15), a fully staffed business center and a number of in-house shops that counts Chanel in its chi-chi ranks. Business-minded travelers can get to work in guest rooms that offer high-speed internet access and a phone setup with a dual-line system, speakerphones and caller ID. Several public areas, like the Palm Court and Drake Bros., offer wireless.

Centerstage Reviewer: Jennifer Berg